WO2003013713A1 - Apparatus and method for agitating a fluid suspension - Google Patents

Apparatus and method for agitating a fluid suspension Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2003013713A1
WO2003013713A1 PCT/US2002/011902 US0211902W WO03013713A1 WO 2003013713 A1 WO2003013713 A1 WO 2003013713A1 US 0211902 W US0211902 W US 0211902W WO 03013713 A1 WO03013713 A1 WO 03013713A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
fluid suspension
vessel
partially flexible
flexible vessel
dispensing
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/US2002/011902
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Richard D. Baron
Original Assignee
Vitality Beverages, Inc.
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Vitality Beverages, Inc. filed Critical Vitality Beverages, Inc.
Priority to EP02733991A priority Critical patent/EP1425087B1/en
Priority to DE60223057T priority patent/DE60223057T2/en
Publication of WO2003013713A1 publication Critical patent/WO2003013713A1/en
Priority to NO20040554A priority patent/NO331141B1/en

Links

Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01F—MIXING, e.g. DISSOLVING, EMULSIFYING OR DISPERSING
    • B01F31/00—Mixers with shaking, oscillating, or vibrating mechanisms
    • B01F31/55—Mixers with shaking, oscillating, or vibrating mechanisms the materials to be mixed being contained in a flexible bag submitted to periodical deformation
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01F—MIXING, e.g. DISSOLVING, EMULSIFYING OR DISPERSING
    • B01F31/00—Mixers with shaking, oscillating, or vibrating mechanisms
    • B01F31/30—Mixers with shaking, oscillating, or vibrating mechanisms comprising a receptacle to only a part of which the shaking, oscillating, or vibrating movement is imparted
    • B01F31/31—Mixers with shaking, oscillating, or vibrating mechanisms comprising a receptacle to only a part of which the shaking, oscillating, or vibrating movement is imparted using receptacles with deformable parts, e.g. membranes, to which a motion is imparted
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01F—MIXING, e.g. DISSOLVING, EMULSIFYING OR DISPERSING
    • B01F31/00—Mixers with shaking, oscillating, or vibrating mechanisms
    • B01F31/44—Mixers with shaking, oscillating, or vibrating mechanisms with stirrers performing an oscillatory, vibratory or shaking movement
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01F—MIXING, e.g. DISSOLVING, EMULSIFYING OR DISPERSING
    • B01F35/00—Accessories for mixers; Auxiliary operations or auxiliary devices; Parts or details of general application
    • B01F35/30—Driving arrangements; Transmissions; Couplings; Brakes
    • B01F35/32—Driving arrangements
    • B01F35/325—Driving reciprocating or oscillating stirrers
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01F—MIXING, e.g. DISSOLVING, EMULSIFYING OR DISPERSING
    • B01F35/00—Accessories for mixers; Auxiliary operations or auxiliary devices; Parts or details of general application
    • B01F35/50—Mixing receptacles
    • B01F35/513—Flexible receptacles, e.g. bags supported by rigid containers
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01F—MIXING, e.g. DISSOLVING, EMULSIFYING OR DISPERSING
    • B01F2101/00—Mixing characterised by the nature of the mixed materials or by the application field
    • B01F2101/06—Mixing of food ingredients
    • B01F2101/14—Mixing of ingredients for non-alcoholic beverages; Dissolving sugar in water
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01F—MIXING, e.g. DISSOLVING, EMULSIFYING OR DISPERSING
    • B01F2101/00—Mixing characterised by the nature of the mixed materials or by the application field
    • B01F2101/06—Mixing of food ingredients
    • B01F2101/16—Mixing wine or other alcoholic beverages; Mixing ingredients thereof

Definitions

  • This invention relates generally to the beverage industry, and more particularly to an apparatus and method for agitating a fluid suspension so that the fluid suspension is uniformly agitated and mixed, contained in a vessel for dispensing portions of the suspension.
  • Figure 4 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the receiving structure of this invention in a loading position
  • Figure 5 is a plan view of an at least partially flexible vessel used in this receiving structure of Fig. 4;
  • Figure 8 is another perspective view of the apparatus of Fig. 4;
  • Figure 9 is a side view of the apparatus of Fig. 4.
  • Figure 10 is a perspective view of the receiving structure of Fig. 4 with the vessel of Fig. 5 positioned within and a dispensing tube and a passage operatively associated;
  • Figure 11 is a side view of the vessel of Fig. 7 illustrating the manner in which a fluid suspension may be substantially uniformly agitated;
  • Figure 12 is a side view of the vessel of Fig. 7 further illustrating the manner in which a fluid suspension may be substantially uniformly agitated;
  • Figure 13 is a flow chart illustrating a preferred method of this invention.
  • Figure 14 is a flow chart illustrating a preferred method of this invention. DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
  • an actuator 1 reciprocally depresses and releases a bag 2.
  • the pressure exerted in the direction 3 by the actuator 1 on plunger 10 forces the suspended material in the bag 2 to travel in directions 4 and 5, away from the center of the bag 2 and towards the sides of the bag 2.
  • the actuator releases in a direction 6 the suspended material settles in areas 7 and 8, with little suspended material in area 9.
  • beverages dispensed from the bag 2 are not uniform in composition.
  • FIG. 4 through 8 illustrate an apparatus generally indicated by reference numeral 10, for agitating a fluid suspension 20 contained within an at least partially flexible vessel 30.
  • the at least partially flexible vessel 30 is completely flexible.
  • the apparatus has a structure 40 for receiving the at least partially flexible vessel 30.
  • the structure 40 is temperature controlled using any device or method that is well known in the art.
  • the structure 40 may be refrigerated or heated. As shown in Figs.
  • the structure has a panel 42 that is suitably adjustable between a first, open, loading position shown in Fig. 4, where the vessel may be conveniently removed from or inserted into the structure 40, and a second, closed, operating position, shown in Fig. 6, where the vessel 30 is retained within the structure 40 in a position suitable for an agitating member 50 to substantially uniformly agitate the fluid suspension.
  • hinges 46 permit the panel, or door, 42 to be moved between the first loading position and the second operating position.
  • the structure 40 has an agitating member 50 operatively located within the structure 40, and the agitating member 50 is suitably movable between a first position, proximate first end 60 of slot 65 in structure 40, and a second position proximate second end 70 of said slot 65.
  • the at least partially flexible vessel 30 is conveniently positioned such that a first inner portion 80 rests substantially proximate to a first side 100 of the agitating member 50.
  • a second inner portion 90 of the at least partially flexible vessel 30 rests substantially proximate to a second side 110 of the agitating member 50.
  • a motor 120 herein illustrated by a schematic representation representing any device to impart motion known in the art, including motion imparted through manual operation, is operatively communicated to the agitating member 50.
  • the motor 120 operatively communicates with the agitating member 50 through a linkage 170.
  • Figure 8 illustrates a preferred motor 122 and a preferred linkage 172.
  • Figure 9 illustrates the linkage 172 from a side view.
  • the motor 120 suitably causes the agitating member 50 to move between the first position and the second position to substantially uniformly agitate the fluid suspension 20.
  • the motor 122 imparts reciprocal motion to the agitating member 50 by moving the linkage 172 and agitating motion to a first position 60 and a second position 70.
  • the structure 40 defines an inner portion 124 of the structure and an outer portion generally represented by the reference numeral 130.
  • a passage 150 is disposed between the inner portion 124 and the outer portion 130 of the structure 40.
  • the passage 150 is utilized in dispensing the fluid suspension 20 from the inner portion 124 to the outer portion 130 of the structure 40.
  • the at least partially flexible vessel 30 suitably has a dispensing tube 160 that is operatively associated with the passage 150 for dispensing the fluid suspension 20 from the inner portion 124 to the outer portion 130 of the structure 40.
  • the at least partially flexible vessel 30 is loaded into a structure 40 for dispensing the fluid suspension 40.
  • Structure 40 suitably defines an inner portion 124 and an outer portion 130 and has a passage disposed between the inner portion 124 and the outer portion 130 of the structure 40.
  • a preferred method ofthis invention temperature controls the structure 40.
  • the at least partially flexible vessel 30 loaded into the structure 40 has a dispensing tube 160.
  • a user of a method ofthis invention operatively associates the dispensing tube 160 with the passage 150 of the structure 40.
  • the fluid suspension is dispensed from the structure 40.
  • an act 270 is folding an at least partially flexible vessel such that there is an inner first portion and an inner second portion.
  • another act 280 is reciprocally moving said inner first portion between a first position and a second position, whereby said fluid suspension is substantially uniformly agitated within said at least partially flexible vessel.
  • another act 330 is temperature controlling the structure by any device or method well known in the art.
  • An act 340 is operatively associating the dispensing tube of the vessel and the passage of the structure.
  • an act 350 is dispensing the fluid suspension. It should be noted that these are acts for one preferred embodiment of the present invention, and the actual order of the steps is not critical to the invention.

Landscapes

  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
  • Mixers With Rotating Receptacles And Mixers With Vibration Mechanisms (AREA)
  • Mixers Of The Rotary Stirring Type (AREA)
  • Soy Sauces And Products Related Thereto (AREA)
  • Fluid-Damping Devices (AREA)
  • Accessories For Mixers (AREA)
  • Feeding, Discharge, Calcimining, Fusing, And Gas-Generation Devices (AREA)

Abstract

This invention provides an apparatus and a method for agitating a fluid suspension contained within an at least partially flexible vessel (30). This invention provides an apparatus comprising a structure (40) for receiving the vessel, an agitating member (50) capable of receiving the vessel, and a motor (120) operatively communicating with the agitating member to substantially uniformly agitate the fluid suspension. This invention also provides a method comprising folding an at least partially flexible vessel so that there are two inner portions and reciprocally moving one or both of the inner portions between a first position and a second position, whereby the fluid suspension is substantially uniformly agitated.

Description

TITLE OF LNNENTION: Apparatus and Method for Agitating a Fluid Suspension TNNENTOR: Richard D. Baron
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates generally to the beverage industry, and more particularly to an apparatus and method for agitating a fluid suspension so that the fluid suspension is uniformly agitated and mixed, contained in a vessel for dispensing portions of the suspension.
The need to substantially uniformly agitate fluid suspensions for dispensing has long been felt. In the beverage industry, it is desirable to dispense beverages with consistent quality among all beverages dispensed. In order to ensure consistent quality, the sediment within the fluid suspension being dispensed must be thoroughly and uniformly agitated and mixed. If the fluid suspension is not properly agitated, then the beverage dispensed will contain an improper amount of suspended material. For example, if an orange juice dispenser does not adequately agitate the vessel containing the orange juice, some glasses of juice dispensed will contain more pulp than other glasses of juice dispensed from the same dispenser.
Methods for agitating fluid suspensions are well known in the art. Some have attempted to blend the contents of a bag using an actuator to reciprocally exert and release pressure upon a single portion of a flexible container. However, such methods do not adequately or uniformly agitate the fluid suspensions. Applying pressure to only a portion of the vessel simply displaces the suspended materials away from the point of pressure. Typically, this forces the suspended materials to the corners of the vessel, so that the fluid suspension is not substantially uniformly agitated. Therefore, an apparatus and method are needed that substantially uniformly agitates a fluid suspension. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
This invention provides an apparatus and a method for agitating a fluid suspension contained within an at least partially flexible vessel. This invention provides an apparatus comprising a structure for receiving the vessel such that a portion of the vessel rests proximate to one side of an agitating member and another portion of the vessel rests proximate to another side of the agitating member, and a motor operatively communicating with the agitating member to substantially uniformly agitate the fluid suspension. This invention also provides a method comprising folding an at least partially flexible vessel so that there are two inner portions and reciprocally moving one or both of the inner portions between a first position and a second position, whereby the fluid suspension is substantially uniformly agitated. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
A particularly preferred embodiment of the invention will be described in detail below in connection with the drawings in which:
Figure 1 is a schematic representation of an example of an apparatus of the prior art; Figure 2 is a schematic representation of an example of the flow of suspended material as a result of a prior art apparatus;
Figure 3 is a schematic representation of an example of the flow of suspended material as a result of a prior art apparatus;
Figure 4 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the receiving structure of this invention in a loading position;
Figure 5 is a plan view of an at least partially flexible vessel used in this receiving structure of Fig. 4;
Figure 6 is a perspective view of the receiving structure of this invention in an operating position; Figure 7 is a side view of the vessel of Fig. 5 folded over the agitator of the apparatus of Fig.4;
Figure 8 is another perspective view of the apparatus of Fig. 4;
Figure 9 is a side view of the apparatus of Fig. 4;
Figure 10 is a perspective view of the receiving structure of Fig. 4 with the vessel of Fig. 5 positioned within and a dispensing tube and a passage operatively associated;
Figure 11 is a side view of the vessel of Fig. 7 illustrating the manner in which a fluid suspension may be substantially uniformly agitated;
Figure 12 is a side view of the vessel of Fig. 7 further illustrating the manner in which a fluid suspension may be substantially uniformly agitated; Figure 13 is a flow chart illustrating a preferred method of this invention; and
Figure 14 is a flow chart illustrating a preferred method of this invention. DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
In the prior art, as illustrated in Figs. 1-3, an actuator 1 reciprocally depresses and releases a bag 2. The pressure exerted in the direction 3 by the actuator 1 on plunger 10 forces the suspended material in the bag 2 to travel in directions 4 and 5, away from the center of the bag 2 and towards the sides of the bag 2. When the actuator releases in a direction 6, the suspended material settles in areas 7 and 8, with little suspended material in area 9. As a result, beverages dispensed from the bag 2 are not uniform in composition.
The present invention overcomes this problem in the prior art. Particularly preferred embodiments of the present invention are illustrated in the drawings, which illustrate a preferable apparatus and method for agitating fluid suspensions contained within an at least partially flexible vessel. Figs. 4 through 8 illustrate an apparatus generally indicated by reference numeral 10, for agitating a fluid suspension 20 contained within an at least partially flexible vessel 30. In one preferred embodiment, the at least partially flexible vessel 30 is completely flexible. Suitably, the apparatus has a structure 40 for receiving the at least partially flexible vessel 30. In one preferred embodiment, the structure 40 is temperature controlled using any device or method that is well known in the art. Suitably, the structure 40 may be refrigerated or heated. As shown in Figs. 4 and 6, the structure has a panel 42 that is suitably adjustable between a first, open, loading position shown in Fig. 4, where the vessel may be conveniently removed from or inserted into the structure 40, and a second, closed, operating position, shown in Fig. 6, where the vessel 30 is retained within the structure 40 in a position suitable for an agitating member 50 to substantially uniformly agitate the fluid suspension. Conveniently, hinges 46 permit the panel, or door, 42 to be moved between the first loading position and the second operating position.
Preferably, the structure 40 has an agitating member 50 operatively located within the structure 40, and the agitating member 50 is suitably movable between a first position, proximate first end 60 of slot 65 in structure 40, and a second position proximate second end 70 of said slot 65. As illustrated in Figs. 4 and 7, the at least partially flexible vessel 30 is conveniently positioned such that a first inner portion 80 rests substantially proximate to a first side 100 of the agitating member 50. Likewise, a second inner portion 90 of the at least partially flexible vessel 30 rests substantially proximate to a second side 110 of the agitating member 50.
Conveniently, a motor 120, herein illustrated by a schematic representation representing any device to impart motion known in the art, including motion imparted through manual operation, is operatively communicated to the agitating member 50. Most preferably, the motor 120 operatively communicates with the agitating member 50 through a linkage 170. Figure 8 illustrates a preferred motor 122 and a preferred linkage 172. Figure 9 illustrates the linkage 172 from a side view. When in operation, the motor 120 suitably causes the agitating member 50 to move between the first position and the second position to substantially uniformly agitate the fluid suspension 20. In one preferred embodiment, the motor 122 imparts reciprocal motion to the agitating member 50 by moving the linkage 172 and agitating motion to a first position 60 and a second position 70.
In a preferred embodiment, the structure 40 defines an inner portion 124 of the structure and an outer portion generally represented by the reference numeral 130. Conveniently, a passage 150 is disposed between the inner portion 124 and the outer portion 130 of the structure 40. The passage 150 is utilized in dispensing the fluid suspension 20 from the inner portion 124 to the outer portion 130 of the structure 40. As shown in Fig. 10, the at least partially flexible vessel 30 suitably has a dispensing tube 160 that is operatively associated with the passage 150 for dispensing the fluid suspension 20 from the inner portion 124 to the outer portion 130 of the structure 40.
As illustrated in Fig. 7, to perform a particularly preferred method of this invention for agitating fluid suspensions contained within an at least partially flexible vessel, the at least partially flexible vessel 30 is folded such that there is an inner first portion 80 and an inner second portion 90. Looking at Figs. 11 and 12, the agitating member 50 reciprocally moves the inner first portion 80 between a first position, shown in Fig. 11, and a second position, shown in Fig. 12. Suitably, the agitating member 50 also reciprocally moves the inner second portion 90 between a first position, shown in Fig. 11, and a second position shown in Fig. 12. This reciprocal motion conveniently substantially uniformly agitates the fluid suspension 20.
Figs. 5, 11, 12, and 13 also illustrate the manner in which a preferred apparatus 10 and method 269 of this invention substantially uniformly agitates the fluid suspension 20. Looking at Fig. 11, the agitating member 50 exerts a force in the direction of reference number 180 on the inner first portion 80 of the at least partially flexible vessel 30, causing the inner first portion to travel to the first position, shown in Fig. 11. This movement causes the fluid suspension 20 to travel in a direction generally shown by the arrow of reference numeral 250. Preferably, as a result of the agitation of the fluid suspension 20, the inner second portion 90 of the at least partially flexible vessel 30 travels to the illustrated first position.
Conveniently, the agitating member then exerts a force in the direction of reference number 190 on the inner second portion 90 of the at least partially flexible vessel 30, causing the inner second portion 90 to reciprocally move from the first position illustrated in Fig. 11 to the second position illustrated in Fig. 12. Suitably, the inner first portion 80 reciprocally moves from the illustrated first position to the second position. The fluid suspension 20 preferably travels in a direction generally shown by the arrow of reference numeral 260. As a result ofthis reciprocal motion, the fluid suspension is substantially uniformly agitated.
In one preferred embodiment of the method ofthis invention, the at least partially flexible vessel 30 is loaded into a structure 40 for dispensing the fluid suspension 40. Structure 40 suitably defines an inner portion 124 and an outer portion 130 and has a passage disposed between the inner portion 124 and the outer portion 130 of the structure 40. A preferred method ofthis invention temperature controls the structure 40. In a preferred embodiment of the method ofthis invention, the at least partially flexible vessel 30 loaded into the structure 40 has a dispensing tube 160. Conveniently, a user of a method ofthis invention operatively associates the dispensing tube 160 with the passage 150 of the structure 40. As a final preferred act of the present invention, the fluid suspension is dispensed from the structure 40.
A preferred method 269 is illustrated in Fig. 13. Suitably, an act 270 is folding an at least partially flexible vessel such that there is an inner first portion and an inner second portion. Conveniently, another act 280 is reciprocally moving said inner first portion between a first position and a second position, whereby said fluid suspension is substantially uniformly agitated within said at least partially flexible vessel.
Fig. 14 illustrates another preferred method 289 of the present invention. An act 290 is, preferably, folding an at least partially flexible vessel having a dispensing tube such that there is an inner first portion and an inner second portion. Another convenient act 300 is loading the vessel into a structure. Preferably, this structure defines an inner portion of the structure, an outer portion of the structure, and a passage disposed between the inner portion and the outer portion for dispensing a fluid suspension. Suitably, an act 310 is reciprocally moving the inner first portion between a first position and a second position; whereby the fluid suspension is substantially uniformly agitated within the at least partially flexible vessel. An act 320 is reciprocally moving the inner second portion of the vessel between a first position and a second position. In a preferred method, another act 330 is temperature controlling the structure by any device or method well known in the art. An act 340 is operatively associating the dispensing tube of the vessel and the passage of the structure. Conveniently, an act 350 is dispensing the fluid suspension. It should be noted that these are acts for one preferred embodiment of the present invention, and the actual order of the steps is not critical to the invention.

Claims

What is Claimed Is:
1. An apparatus for agitating a fluid suspension contained within an at least partially flexible vessel, comprising: a structure for receiving the at least partially flexible vessel; an agitating member movable between a first position and a second position and operatively located within said structure such that said at least partially flexible vessel may be received with an inner first portion of said flexible vessel resting substantially proximate to a first side of said agitating member and an inner second portion of said flexible vessel resting substantially proximate to a second side of said agitating member; and a motor operatively communicating with said agitating member to reciprocally move said member between said first position and said second position, whereby the fluid suspension is substantially uniformly agitated.
2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said structure is temperature controlled.
3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said structure includes a panel that is adjustable between a first loading position and a second operating position.
4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said vessel is completely flexible.
5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said structure defines an inner portion of said structure and an outer portion of said structure, and a passage is disposed between said inner portion and said outer portion for dispensing said fluid suspension from said inner portion to said outer portion.
6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein said at least partially flexible vessel has a dispensing tube.
7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein said passage and said dispensing tube are operatively associated for dispensing said fluid suspension from said inner portion to said outer portion.
8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said at least partially flexible vessel has a dispensing tube.
9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said motor operatively communicates with said agitating member through a linkage.
10. An apparatus for agitating a fluid suspension contained within a completely flexible vessel, said vessel having a dispensing tube and being operatively associated with a passage, comprising: a temperature controlled structure for receiving the at least partially flexible vessel, said structure including a panel that is adjustable between a first loading position and a second operating position, said structure defining an inner portion of said structure and an outer portion of said structure, and said structure having said passage disposed between said inner portion and said outer portion for dispensing said fluid suspension from said inner portion to said outer portion; an agitating member having a first side and a second side movable between a first position and a second position operatively located within said structure such that said at least partially flexible vessel may be received with an inner first portion of said flexible vessel resting substantially proximate to said first side of said agitating member and an inner second portion of said flexible vessel resting substantially proximate to a said second side of said agitating member; and a motor operatively communicating with said agitating member through a linkage to reciprocally move said agitating member between said first position and said second position whereby the fluid suspension is substantially uniformly agitated.
11. A method for agitating a fluid suspension contained within an at least partially flexible dispensing vessel, comprising: folding said at least partially flexible vessel to form an inner first portion and an inner second portion of said vessel; and reciprocally moving said inner first portion between a first position and a second position, whereby said fluid suspension is substantially uniformly agitated within said at least partially flexible vessel.
12. The method of claim 11, further comprising the act of reciprocally moving said inner second portion between a first position and a second position.
13. The method of claim 12, further comprising the act of loading said at least partially flexible vessel into a structure.
14. The method of claim 13, further comprising the act of dispensing said fluid suspension.
15. The method of claim 11 , further comprising the act of loading said at least partially flexible vessel into a receiving structure.
16. The method of claim 15, further comprising the act of temperature controlling said structure.
17. The method of claim 11, further comprising the act of temperature controlling said structure.
18. The method of claim 11 , further comprising the act of dispensing said fluid suspension
19. The method of claim 11, further comprising the act of loading said at least partially flexible vessel into a receiving structure, said structure defining an inner portion of said structure and an outer portion of said structure and a passage disposed between said inner portion and said outer portion for dispensing said fluid suspension.
20. The method of claim 19, further comprising the act of loading an at least partially flexible vessel having a dispensing tube into said structure.
21. The method of claim 20, further comprising the act of operatively associating said dispensing tube and said passage.
22. The method of claim 21 , further comprising the act of dispensing said fluid suspension.
23. A method for agitating a fluid suspension contained within an at least partially flexible vessel having a dispensing tube, comprising: folding said at least partially flexible vessel to form an inner first portion and an inner second portion of said vessel; loading said at least partially flexible vessel into a structure, said structure defining an inner portion of said structure and an outer portion of said structure and a passage disposed between said inner portion and said outer portion for dispensing said fluid suspension; reciprocally moving said inner first portion between a first position and a second position; whereby said fluid suspension is substantially uniformly agitated within said at least partially flexible vessel; reciprocally moving said inner second portion between a first position and a second position; temperature controlling said structure; operatively associating said dispensing tube and said passage; and dispensing said fluid suspension.
PCT/US2002/011902 2001-08-09 2002-06-11 Apparatus and method for agitating a fluid suspension WO2003013713A1 (en)

Priority Applications (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP02733991A EP1425087B1 (en) 2001-08-09 2002-06-11 Apparatus and method for agitating a fluid suspension
DE60223057T DE60223057T2 (en) 2001-08-09 2002-06-11 DEVICE AND METHOD FOR MOVING A LIQUID SUSPENSION
NO20040554A NO331141B1 (en) 2001-08-09 2004-02-06 Apparatus and method for stirring a fluid suspension

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US09/925,998 2001-08-09
US09/925,998 US6634783B2 (en) 2001-08-09 2001-08-09 Apparatus for agitating a fluid suspension

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2003013713A1 true WO2003013713A1 (en) 2003-02-20

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PCT/US2002/011902 WO2003013713A1 (en) 2001-08-09 2002-06-11 Apparatus and method for agitating a fluid suspension

Country Status (6)

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US (2) US6634783B2 (en)
EP (1) EP1425087B1 (en)
AT (1) ATE375820T1 (en)
DE (1) DE60223057T2 (en)
NO (1) NO331141B1 (en)
WO (1) WO2003013713A1 (en)

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DE60223057D1 (en) 2007-11-29
US20030031085A1 (en) 2003-02-13
NO20040554D0 (en) 2004-02-06
EP1425087A4 (en) 2006-04-26
US6637929B2 (en) 2003-10-28
NO331141B1 (en) 2011-10-24
NO20040554L (en) 2004-02-27
ATE375820T1 (en) 2007-11-15
EP1425087B1 (en) 2007-10-17
US6634783B2 (en) 2003-10-21
US20030031088A1 (en) 2003-02-13
EP1425087A1 (en) 2004-06-09
DE60223057T2 (en) 2008-07-24

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